Keychain Ticket Scratcher

ABSTRACT

An inventive device for protecting the hands, fingers, and skin while scratching latex or other protective film from the surface of a ticket is disclosed. The device is comprised of a housing, a slider member, and a resilient scratching member in a parallel position with the housing. The slider member is moved in a downward position toward the farthest point in order to release the scratching member and the receptacles. In use, the hands, fingers, and skin are protected as the receptacles are opened and the scratching member engages with the surface of the ticket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

“Not Applicable”

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

“Not Applicable”

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

“Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new combination keychain and ticketscratcher for conveniently removing latex or similar film covering froma game ticket while protecting the user's hands, fingers or skin fromdust, shavings, or ink.

The use of a coin or any semi-circular device to scratch off gametickets is known in the prior art. There are many known prior artscratch off apparatuses. These include U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,2322 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,470,574B1. These devices are very common and are oftenpurchased at grocery stores and convenience stores. Scratch-off coatingmaterials are used to conceal numbers on a ticket. These coatings cancontain a variety of materials including silicone, wax, ink, and acrylicresin. Aluminum foil is also used as a component of some multilayeredtickets. Though many ticket purchasers have numerous convenient ways toscrape the protective film from game tickets, these devices do notprovide protection for the hands, fingers or skin. The scratched offdust or particles can leave the hands, fingers or skin discolored anddirty.

In these respects, the keychain ticket scratcher according to thepresent invention, departs from the concepts and designs of prior artand therefore provides a device primarily developed for the purpose ofremoving latex or the like from game tickets while protecting the user'shand, fingers or skin from discoloration or dust. The keychain functionof the ticket scratcher makes it accessible and easier to locate. Theuser would therefore avoid using fingernails or other objects to removethe film from a ticket.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This device will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices bysafeguarding the user from dust or similar residue. The dust or residuefrom a scratched off game ticket can get into contact with the skin,clothing or other surface areas. In some cases, the fingers or skinmight become covered with a colored dust layer and some residue mightbecome hidden beneath the fingernails. The dust or residue is latertransferred onto other surface areas if the hands or clothing are notwashed immediately. Depending on the composition or coverings of thegame ticket, allergy sufferers would have a continued exposure to thedust or residue. The presence of dust or residue is even more pronouncedin multiple ticket scratches. This device is novel in that it protectsthe user from dust or residue after use. Once the device is engaged, thereceptacles on the device prevent dust or residue from rubbing onto theskin and subsequently onto other surface areas.

Therefore, a general objective of the invention is to provide a keychainticket scratcher that can be used to scratch game tickets and protectthe hand, fingers, and skin while it is being used.

Another objects of the invention are to create a device that can beeasily stored or carried around by attaching a keychain ring into thedevice and to create a device that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further benefits of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fullydisclosing the preferred embodiments of the invention, without placinglimitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the keychain ticket scratcher embodyingthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keychain ticket scratcher showinghow the device can be used.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the keychain ticket scratcher showing theslider member at the top position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the keychain ticket scratcher showing theslider member at the bottom position and the open receptacles.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the keychain scratcher with the slider memberin a closed position.

FIG. 5 a is a side view of the keychain scratcher showing the slidermember and the receptacles in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the keychain ticket scratcher showing theslider member and receptacles in an open position.

FIG. 6 a is a side view of the keychain ticket scratcher showing theslider member and receptacles in an open position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the keychain ticket scratcher showingthe receptacles completely retracted within the housing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the keychain ticket scratcher showing anactuated slider member, the receptacles in an open position, and thescraping member extended out of the device.

FIG. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of the keychain ticket scratcher.

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the keychain ticket scratcher.

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the keychain ticket scratchershowing the slider member being moved along the side of the device, thescratching member being extended out of the device and the receptaclesin the open position.

FIG. 12 is a top cross-sectional view of the keychain ticket scratcher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A keychain ticket scratcher device 10 according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention will now be described with referenceto FIGS. 1 though 12 of the accompanying drawings.

The keychain ticket scratcher device 10 includes a housing 12, whichgenerally has a rectangular shape. The device 10 has a front side 14, aback side 16, a top side 18, a bottom side 21, a right side 22 and aleft side 24. The sides are connectable and form an interior space 26.The device 10 is constructed of a durable plastic material although alightweight metal would also be acceptable. The front side receptacle 41and the back side receptacle 42 are releasably attached to the interiorspace 26 by a plurality of support structures 48. The support structures48 are releasably attached to the interior space 26 of the housing 12.The support structures 48 are made of a durable plastic material.

The various parts for the device 10 may be made of any color and made indifferent sizes and capacities. The device 10 is portable and can beused as a keychain.

The bottom side 21 has a first elongated slot 28 extending between thefront side 14 and back side 16. The right side 22 of the device 10 has asecond elongated slot adapted to receive the slider member 54. The firstelongated slot 28 is further positioned in the center of the front side14 and the back side 16. The first elongated slot 28 is adapted toreceive the scraping edge 32 of the scratching member 51 after theslider member 54 is moved down the farthest point 56 along the rightside 22 of the device 10. The front side 14 has a front side opening 34,which is adapted to accommodate the height and width of the front sidereceptacle 41. The back side 16 has a back side opening 36, which isadapted to accommodate the height and width of the back side receptacle42. Moving slider member 54 to its farthest point 58 along the secondelongated slot 44 opens the receptacles. The front side receptacle 41 ismovable between open and closed positions about a front side hingedmember 46. The back side receptacle 42 is movable between open andclosed positions about a back side hinged member 48. The front sidehinged member 46 and the back side hinged member 48 are adapted tospring back and thereby enable the front side receptacle 41 and the backside receptacle 42 to close. The front side receptacle 41 and the backside receptacle 42 have a plurality of support structures 48 that enablethe front side receptacle 41 and the back side receptacle 42 to bereleasably attached to said device 10.

The front side receptacle 41 and the back side receptacle 42 have avertical distance sufficient to allow separation by the slider member 54as the slider member 54 is moved to the farthest point 58 along thesecond elongated slot 44. The front side receptacle 41 and the back sidereceptacle 42 are arranged in a parallel relation to each other. Thefront side receptacle 41 and the back side receptacle 42 have agenerally concave interior.

The scratching member 51 has a top portion 52 and a scratching edge 32.The scratching member 51 is constructed of a semi-rigid plastic, whichgives it a spring like quality and is adapted to engage the game ticket.The scratching edge 32 of the scratching member is substantiallysemi-circular and is beveled. The scratching member 51 is attached tothe back surface 56 of the slider member 54. The width and length of thetop portion 52 of the scratching member 51 allows it to open the frontside receptacle 41 and said back side receptacle 42 at a 45 degreeangle.

The slider member 54 is substantially rectangular in shape and ismovable in the second elongated slot 44. The slider member 54 has afront surface 55 and a back surface 56. The back surface 56 extends intothe housing and is adapted to engage the scratching member 51 in amanner such that when the slider member 54 is in contact with thescratching member 51, the scratching member 51 can be moved down to thefarthest point 58 and engage the front side receptacle 41 and the backside receptacle 42. The width of said second elongated slot 44 is atleast as large as the diameter of said back portion 55 of the slidermember 54, whereby the slider member 54 can be moved.

The top side 18 has a loop 61 in the outer surface thereof that can bealigned to permit insertion of a keychain therein. The loop 61 isadapted to fit a keychain or similar device. The loop will provide asuitable way of retaining the keychain ticket scratcher in a convenientlocation and it can be easily located when needed to scratch gametickets.

Still in reference to the drawings, the inventive ticket scratcherdevice 10 may also include a gripping portion 62 on the front side 14 ofthe device 10. A user of the device 10 may place a thumb on the frontside 14 of the device 10 and firmly hold the gripping portion 62.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, I do not wish to limit the same to the exact and precisedetails of the structure, and I reserve the right to make allmodifications and changes so long as they remain within the scope of theinvention and the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for removing latex or protective film ona gaming ticket comprising: A housing generally having a rectangularshape, a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a rightside, and a left side all defining an interior space; said interiorspace having a plurality of support structures releasably attached to afront side receptacle and a back side receptacle, said supportstructures being releasably attached to said interior space; said bottomside having a first elongated slot extending between said front and saidback sides and further positioned in the center of said front and saidback sides, said first elongated slot being adapted to receive thebottom portion of the scratching member after the slider member is moveddown to the farthest point along said right side of said device; saidright side having a second elongated being adapted to receive the frontsurface of the slider member; said front side having a front sideopening and said back side having a back side opening adapted toaccommodate the height and width of said front side receptacle and saidback side receptacle; said front side receptacle and said back sidereceptacle being actuated by moving said slider member to a farthestpoint along said second elongated slot, said front side receptacle andsaid back side receptacle are actuable between open and closed positionsabout a left side hinged member and a right side hinged member adaptedto spring back into a closed position; said scratching member having atop portion, a scratching edge, and said slider member attached thereon;said slider member having a front surface and a back surface, and beingmovable in said second elongated slot, said back surface extending intosaid housing and being adapted to engage said scratching member in amanner such that when such slider member is in contact with saidscratching member, said slider member can be moved down to said farthestpoint down and engage said front side receptacles and said back sidereceptacles; said top side having a loop in the outer surface thereofthat can be aligned to permit insertion of a keychain loop therein, suchkeychain loop being adapted to fit a keychain or similar device. i. Adevice according to claim 1 wherein said front side, said back side,said top side, said bottom side, said left said, and said right side areconnectable in order to form said housing. ii. A device according toclaim 1 wherein said device is portable. iii. A device according toclaim 1 wherein said device is constructed of a durable plasticmaterial. iv. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device may bemade of any color and made in different sizes and capacities. v. Adevice according to claim 1 wherein the width of said second elongatedslot is at least as large as the diameter of said back portion of saidslider member, whereby said slider member can be moved. vi. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said front side receptacle and said backside receptacle are arranged in a parallel relation to each other. vii.A device according to claim 1 wherein said front side receptacle andsaid back side receptacle have a vertical distance sufficient to allowseparation by said slider member as said slider member is moved to saidfarthest point on said second elongated slot. viii. A device accordingto claim 1 wherein said support structures are made of a durable plasticmaterial. ix. A device according to claim 1 wherein said front sidereceptacle and said back side receptacle have a generally concaveinterior. x. A device according to claim 1 wherein said scratching edgehas a scratching width, a scratching length, and is generally beveled.xi. A device according to claim 1 wherein said scratching member isconstructed of a thin metal or semi-rigid plastic which imports a springlike quality to the device. xii. A device according to claim 1 whereinthe width and length of said top portion of said scratching memberallows it to open said front side receptacle and said back sidereceptacle at a 45 degree angle. xiii. The device according to claim 1wherein such keychain loop is adapted to fit a keychain, backpack beltor similar devices.